"GETTING REAL' AT CUMBERLAND JR.

In conjunction with several agencies in the Comox Valley, Cumberland
Junior students will be exposed to substance abuse information
presentations with particular regard to the situation at the present
time in the Comox Valley. Calling the program 'Get Real', the
presenters are looking to provide as much information as possible to
the students.

Mr. Maund, Principal, said he was very pleased to see the introduction
of the program.

"Awareness of substance abuse is a part of Health and Career
Education and in conjunction with teachers, counsellor, youth and
family support worker and our aboriginal aide we have decided to
focus primarily on the use of marijuana. The idea is to educate our
students to the dangers of its use and to give them a 'reality
check'. During the week of December 8th - 12th we will have
presentations, videos, and discussion groups looking at providing as
much information as possible from a variety of sources. We had an
excellent Crystal Meth presentation last week and we want to maintain
the focus on the dangers of substance abuse in our community." Email
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Terry Folks, the school counsellor, is also taking all the grade 10's
to the PARTY (Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth) at St.
Joseph's Hospital.

"If we can raise our students' awareness of the risks involved in the
use and abuse of alcohol and the dangers of the substances out there
then we have done the best we can to give them choices in their
decision making," she noted.

"Our hope is that we can enable a number of student mentors to emerge
who can then talk to groups in elementary schools so that the message
gets across at an early age. This would complement the DARE program.
We all know the influence that peers have and we want to use it for
something that benefits everyone."